Building Futures Together - Power of the 13th Street Partnership

Berks Business Education Coalition Executive Director Terri Hill talks with Dr. Christine Remley, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Albright College, about the 13th Street Partnership.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Hi, my name is Terry Hill. Thank you for tuning in to the Burks Business Education Coalition podcast, where we feature people, programs, and partnerships that benefit our students in their career exploration and pathways. Today we're very excited to have another special guest here from one of our colleges. We have Dr. Christine Remley from Albright College. She is the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. I got that right this time, right? You did get that right. Okay. I got it right this time. It took me a while, people. And she'll be here to share a program that's been probably about 14 years now. 14 years, 14 years in the making, of a partnership with Albright College and Reading School District. And we're really excited to hear about what that program has done, not only for the schools, uh the students at Albright, but how it's benefiting our local school districts here, okay, our local schools. So let's start. Okay. So before we even get into this, and you know now I'm backtracking, even before we get into the the program specifically, I usually like to ask our guests, tell me about your career journey, because a lot of uh our viewers or if there's students uh tuning in, um they somehow misunderstand that the there's a linear path to your career. And I understand you did not have necessarily you did not dream when you were of a an elementary school student that you would be in the position you're in today. So if you can share your story quickly and then we'll go into the program specifically.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

Okay, thank you, Terry. It's wonderful to be here today. Um my journey essentially began as an elementary school teacher. I had always dreamed of being a school teacher and changing the face of public education. And uh I was able to do that for a couple of years in uh Lower Marion area of Pennsylvania. And then my journey sort of took me uh ironically into childcare. And I worked in Goddard schools and kinder care learning centers, running those as a manager. And what I found there was I had a real passion not only for working with young children, but also for teacher development. And I found that I could impact more children if I created great teachers, and that sort of got me on my path to working towards becoming a college professor. I spent uh I spent some time getting a master's degree and uh my PhD from Penn State University and spent go Penn State, ER. And uh I spent uh almost 20 years at Lockhaven University as a full tenured professor of elementary education and early childhood education. From there, my journey took me to Dallas, Texas, believe it or not, where I became a dean of education. And then uh after just a couple of years, I decided it was time to come home. And I was extremely fortunate to land at Albright College, which is where I am today. I still work very closely with the education program. I still uh mentor those programs and help uh our faculty to increase enrollment and build great things, uh, get some uh grant money and those sorts of things. But most of my work now is in student success, student retention, and working uh with the Albright administrative team.

SPEAKER_00 3:33

That's fantastic. So congratulations, welcome. Thank you. So uh today we're focused specifically on the 13th Street Partnership, and part of the reason we're we're addressing that program specifically is because um we like to highlight the relationship between the colleges and our local schools and how they've become a little more entwined and integrated and what the impact has been. So if you can talk to me about the origin of that program.

SPEAKER_01 3:58

You bet. So the 13th Street Project is uh is a larger project, and underneath that is a project called Lions Teach. That program was established in 2012, and it is a combination of volunteers and paid uh tutors, all college students, that work in some of our local schools. It started at 13th and Union, which is uh directly across the street from Albright College, and that's uh part of the 13th Street project. Uh you may have heard, Terry, that you can go from kindergarten to a master's degree on the same street in Reading, Pennsylvania. Uh and and that is called the 13th Street Gang.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

I heard we're the only that's the only place you can.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

I have heard that, and I heard it was in the Guinness Book of World Records, but that I don't know if that's a rumor or the truth.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

Yeah, we'll we'll say it's the truth.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

Somebody, somebody will look that up for us. Yes. And so uh that is what we're known for. As a matter of fact, I spoke with um Pennsylvania Education Secretary Dr. Rowe, and we're hoping to get her to come visit us in the fall to see this partnership and see the work that we're doing with Reading School District. So we're super excited about that opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

So um when this was started, what was the problem that you thought you could address either in the schools by bringing the students in or exposing your students to possibilities within the elementary school across the street? Because I think one of the things I had read about the program was um, you know, there was an acknowledgement that Reading is one of the poorest or lowest economically areas in our county and state. And um this was an initiative to try to uplift the students in in those areas and not only students, I think it was hoping to expand even to the parents and and be like a big community outreach. Um so if you can just share from your experience, you know, what does that look like and how is that addressing that initial initial idea?

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Sure. So there are a lot of ways that this particular program benefits college students and benefits the students in the Reading School District. So as you said, a lot of students in the Reading School District are at-risk students, whether it's through language barriers or it is through poverty or other challenges that they face in their life as children. So by bringing college students in, it allows them one-on-one time to tutor, to speak with children, to work on particular activities while the teacher is doing other activities with the larger group. So it's another set of hands in the classroom, which is always a benefit to the teacher and to the students. The other side of that is Pennsylvania students that are seeking teacher certification have to do a number of hours in classrooms. So this allows them to get into the classroom and to get hands-on experience as they're working towards their teacher certification. The other thing that it does is it's it shows our students in Reading School District that college is possible, that these kids are just like them, they're just a little bigger, but they may have come from similar backgrounds. They may have come from Reading itself. So by showing them that the college right down the street is possible for them through a series of hard work and scholarships and grants, that is our hope, is that we can then uplift the entire community through the work that Albright does.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

So we we did talk about there there is a scholarship available called the 13th Street Gang. Um, and that is available to students because of that story that you can go from kindergarten to master's or doctorate not, I don't think doctorate.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

Not a doctorate yet.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

Okay, master's uh on one street. So it's available to those students who have made that journey on the 13th street. So that is correct. So Albright offers that. That's that's really fabulous. Um one of the things though, you know, what you just shared with me was your students going out to the schools. Do the students ever get an opportunity to come onto campus?

SPEAKER_01 8:17

They do in a number of different ways, and it has varied through the years, right? We've been around 14, 15 years now, and different groups and different organizations have worked with this project, but always with the education department being the anchor. We've had our music department, uh, Dr. Mike DiRico worked with a program called Making Beats that helps students in the class make beats and make music. And our fashion students would go in and work with students, many of them volunteers, to make costumes about books they had read. We also brought students and teachers to campus. Uh we try to bring them on on a regular basis: trunk or treat, leaf collection, Easter egg hunts, uh a various number of different things that we do to try and get them there. Our middle schoolers coming to work with the athletic department. So again, through the years, this has varied and changed as funding and different leadership and different students show an interest in what we're doing.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

So I know we talked about that the program has ebbed and flowed based on funding, right? So at the max you've had how many students?

SPEAKER_01 9:30

We've had more than 50 students in in the schools.

SPEAKER_00 9:33

And and currently based on funding, it's it's right now currently.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

Ten students that are paid per hour. They work uh they work 10 hours a week, I believe, um, 10 hours a week. They're assigned to a classroom and they work individually with that teacher in the classroom. They make their own schedules, they can make that around their class schedules. And I will tell you that um, so we got a grant from PDE. We're very grateful for that, a workforce grant that allowed us to do some workshops on soft skills, interviewing skills, and and other workforce uh skills that they will need for going out and becoming a teacher. But then when those grant funds ran low, our students were very fearful that we wouldn't be able to do this. And we have continued, Albright College has chosen to continue to fund this for these 10 students as a way to continue to give back to the community. Those students were so excited, and they're currently in the classrooms, and they'll stay there until May when they go home for the summer, and we uh we expect to see most of them back in the fall.

SPEAKER_00 10:40

So, what is the from the college students' perspective, what is what is driving them to participate? What do they what do they think they're gonna gain or what have they gained by participating in the program?

SPEAKER_01 10:51

Terry, you probably know that teachers are special people. Yes. We're very passionate about what we do. I'm very passionate about education and young children. Um I often tell people little people are my jam. So understanding that and and coming across uh very excited um 18 to 22 year olds who are looking forward to starting their career in the classroom, they can't wait to get out there. So when they find a job that is number one, giving back to their community, number two, right across the street, and works around their schedule, it is uh it is the best of many worlds for them. So their passion is working with these young kids and getting that hands-on experience, and we hope that it does turn into ultimately getting them in the classroom more full-time through a practicum placement or a student teaching placement, and ultimately leads them to a job. So they are getting that hands-on experience.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

So, do how long does this um for the college student, how long is this a semester program? Is it two semesters? Is it can it continue throughout the years? Like how long do they spend time with this with the students?

SPEAKER_01 12:00

So typically uh in September, they usually start, uh they get back to school in early, uh late August. And we typically wait till after Labor Day, let school get started, let the teachers figure out what they're doing, and then put the students in. I'd say on average they work uh 10 to 12 weeks each semester. And they can decide if they want to, just like any job, if they want to continue doing that, or if they want to move on to something else, and ultimately they graduate, so that opens up another spot for another student.

SPEAKER_00 12:29

That's awesome. That it is very fun. It is very fun. So uh we've talked about what's rewarding for them and why they're doing it. And and a quick uh question, are these elementary education students or is it secondary as well as it's both. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Uh because we're also in Northeast Middle School.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

So uh currently our students are located in 13th and Union, 12th in Marion, and Northeast Middle. Yes, yes, you've expanded beyond the We've expanded beyond 13th Street. And we did that at the request of the district. And with the number of students that were involved, it allowed us to meet the needs that our students wanted. Some of our students really like to work with kindergarten, first, and second grade, some prefer to work with the upper grades, and then we have a couple secondary ed majors who are also working at the middle school. That's so we span across those grades.

SPEAKER_00 13:23

So I know this is a little tougher question, and I'm not sure you're gonna have an answer for me, but you know, what have you heard from either the teachers or the students that have from the from the Reading school district side that have participated? Have you heard any feedback from the teachers that participate saying I want to continue every year? What does that look like and why do they bring the students in?

SPEAKER_01 13:43

So a lot of our uh teachers work directly. We had uh we've had different people overseeing the program uh uh obviously over the last couple of years. Right now, um Mr. Mike Rico is overseeing the program for out of the education department. And he speaks to the teachers, he goes out and visits them and makes sure that our students are supervised, right? We they're they're in a job and we want to make sure they're showing up and doing what they're supposed to be doing. But as with uh most of our education students at Albright, uh the local school districts uh rave about the professionalism, the preparedness, and the excitement that they show when going into the classroom. It isn't easy. You're a full-time college student, you have a lot of uh other requirements, and now I'm asking you to spend 10 hours going to a school and doing a job, but they don't see it as a job. They see it as an opportunity to work with children, and that truly is something that they want to give their life to. So the teachers come back to us, they're anxious when funding is running low, we don't know if we can do this, and then we come back and say, okay, we're sending the students in. It's almost a sigh of relief for them that they are excited to have our kids there.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

So you did touch on, I know most of the students are paid, but there were some volunteer opportunities too. So how does that look? Like who are who volunteers versus who gets paid?

SPEAKER_01 15:04

Sure. So uh there are when we bring students to campus, we get volunteers for for a lot of those things. Our 10 students maybe not available, or so we have athletic teams, sororities and fraternities, or different majors, like our fashion students who may help our students. Those students come on campus, our athletes, our football players would talk to students. So that's all volunteer. That's all giving of your time, doing some philanthropy as required by some of those organizations.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

But it all falls under the big umbrella of the 13th Street Partnership.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

13th Street Partnership and the gang, right?

SPEAKER_00 15:39

And Lions Teach. Yes. So that it it involves a lot more students from Albright or a lot more clubs or different um organizations with within the campus setting that have access to the students. That's correct. Correct. It's fabulous. Yeah. So in addition, I mean, I could I'm curious, and this you don't you may not have an answer for this. Um but since we work with career readiness, is are there any career conversations or are there any activities? I know since those other um organizations are involved, like your your football players, your music program, your fashion program, do they touch on the careers in different in different pieces when they're out there at all?

SPEAKER_01 16:21

So only our our students that are directly involved in the Lions Teach program get that sort of workshop and soft skill training and conversations.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

The other uh the other organizations are there for the philanthropy piece of it.

SPEAKER_00 16:36

Okay. I didn't know if while they were talking to the kids or sharing something about like in fashion, you know, um when I was a student, this is what I thought, and here's why I chose a degree.

SPEAKER_01 16:45

Uh, you know, yeah, I actually that would that would be a great idea, I think, to um help them to see what different majors are available at Albright College. Sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

Because I think we we I shared well, I I know I shared the story of a student I met who was uh very much interested in becoming a designer. Uh is in Reading High School, probably not probably did not go to 13th Street school, I would I would anticipate.

SPEAKER_01 17:09

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

Um and was unfamiliar or unaware that a school right down the street from him has a fashion program. An award-winning fashion program. An award-winning fashion program. I know you I think you're the only school that gets to walk the runway. Correct.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

We have New York New York Fashion Week when Albright College is there every year.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

I think that's that's amazing. So uh for him not to be aware, it's like I love that there's exposure to uh to some of the students. Uh we could like to see if we can grow it. So what is keeping you at this point, or where do you see this growing to and what would you need in order to see this growing?

SPEAKER_01 17:41

Sure, and just like everything else, it's about funding.

SPEAKER_00 17:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:44

Right. So uh we are constantly seeking opportunities through grants. We have been funded in the past by PDE, by the YMSS, and some other uh Truist Bank and some other organizations have have funded this program. So we're always looking for those opportunities to partner. If uh if anybody out there in the community wants to do those kinds of business outreach with our students, we have many different majors that we can help get out into the schools and and do those sorts of things. So really it's about helping our writing partners understand that they're that college is is reasonable, is a reasonable goal for them. And studying everything from business to humanities to music to fashion to art to education is right down the street. So those that want to give back in those ways would be would be grateful. We'd be grateful for that.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

I think that's that's absolutely fabulous. So is there anything that I have not asked you about that you would like to highlight about the program or even just about what um Albright is doing interacting with the different schools?

SPEAKER_01 18:56

Sure. So um Albright College has has been on a bumpy road uh over the last few years. But uh two years ago, under the direction of Dr. Deborah Townsley, uh the school has been in a turnaround, and she is uh continuing with us uh as we've talked about for another five years, and we're grateful to have her. Under her leadership, we've been able to grow the education program, grow some of our sports programs, and grow some of our majors. So we're we're really excited about where Albright is going and the opportunities that get this gives, not only to just local Reading students, but to all students in Berks County, to have an excellent college and an excellent education right here in their backyard. So I came to Albright College just two years ago, and and I can't tell you how what a warm and inviting and exciting place it is to work and to be every day. And I'll tell you the cafeteria food's pretty good.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

Uh yes, and and a little shout out, um, because I have shadowed students on the tour. You have uh coffee, a coffee shop um where this specific coffee is only available at Disney and Albright.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

And Albright College.

SPEAKER_00 20:15

And that's it. So Disney and Albright. So if you love the coffee at Disney, you can also get it at Albright, and it's what's because the gentleman went to Albright, correct?

SPEAKER_01 20:24

Uh I'm not familiar with this college.

SPEAKER_00 20:26

I think and I'm I'm blanking on the name and I wish I remembered, but this coffee, I believe um he was a graduate from Albright College. Oh, from Albright College. Which I think that's really, really, really good.

SPEAKER_01 20:39

You may not know that did you know that Senator Fetterman is also an Albright graduate?

SPEAKER_00 20:43

Did not know that. Yes. Has he been back? Uh not recently. I think we need to have him back. Okay. Okay. So um what we want to just reinforce is that if there's any community members that want to support this initiative, um, they're always looking for sponsors and assistance in that capacity in order to continue this work that not only impacts the Albright College students, but also starts to introduce the idea of college and accessibility to college to these young, young, young students. Correct. So I I really, I really like that. Um thank you for that. And if they want to, they can reach out to you, Dr.

SPEAKER_01 21:26

They absolutely can reach out to me at Albright College. You can find all that information on our website.

SPEAKER_00 21:30

Okay, thank you so much. Um, I'm gonna thank you for being here. I really appreciate you taking the time to share that program and partnership and the power that's been developed between the the college and the Reading School District. We'd love to see you grow it beyond just that little little community around you, that little sliver. Um I think it'd be a long walk depending on where they go, but still I think there's potential there. So we would definitely appreciate that. So if you're inspired, uh please check out Dr. Remley on uh, Albright College's website and uh just inquire about how you can be involved with them or how you can help support them financially. Uh thank you for tuning in and listening to another segment of the Burks Business Education Podcast, Coalition Podcast. I'm Terry Hill, the Executive Director, and I thank you for tuning in. Bye bye.